Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

8th March 2014 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Say Cheese -Say Blue Murder

Piesek P is on the lookout for GREAT British Cheese in Poland – as he finds it he’ll let you know – just smile, Say Cheese from the Scottish Highlands – Say Blue Murder Best known as the bassist from Blur, Alex James has also become notable for his production of cheese. After his runaway […]

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7th March 2014

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by Christopher Prentice

Former British Ambassador to Italy

A changing benefit system

On Tuesday 11 March a group of officials from different British government departments will be in Rome to meet their Italian opposite numbers, to explain how our benefits system has changed and how it will work for those coming into the UK. On this topic, it is important to underline that we are not trying […]

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7th March 2014

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by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

International Women’s Day: ‘women’s economic empowerment and raising girls’ aspirations’.

Upon receiving the Hillary Clinton prize for women, peace and security last month, UK Foreign Secretary Hague said, “I believe that there is no greater strategic prize of the 21st century than the full social, political and economic empowerment of all women everywhere.” [Full speech] Tomorrow is the 103rd International Women’s Day. A great deal […]

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7th March 2014

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Día Internacional de la Mujer

El 8 de marzo es un día importante para mí.  Es el 103 Día Internacional de la Mujer.  Estoy segura que muchas personas se preguntarán  por qué necesitamos un día para las mujeres.  Para mi la respuesta es obvia.  Ya ha pasado mucho tiempo desde que este día fue establecido en 1911 pero todavía hay […]

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7th March 2014

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Women’s International Day

The 8 of March is an important day for me. It is the 103rd International Women’s Day. I am sure lots of people would shrug and question why we need a day for women. For me the answer is obvious. We have come a long way since this day was established in 1911 but there […]

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7th March 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria

My Bulgarian Town

by John Mitchell John Mitchell is a British person who has been living in a small town in the Sliven region for a few years; he speaks Bulgarian and feels fully integrated in the community. Together with local friends, he regularly visits the town’s café, which quite naturally turns into a generator of many colourful, quirky […]

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7th March 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

Tom Fletcher

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Inhuman Human Trafficking

In the 21st century we get angry about many small things: traffic jams, power cuts or a failed internet connection. We get plenty of opportunities for all three in Lebanon. But last Friday I joined an event about an issue worth getting really furious about. The Beirut Bar Association launched a Human Rights Institute booklet […]

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7th March 2014 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Say Cheese – Say Crowdie

Piesek P is on the lookout for GREAT British Cheese in Poland – as he finds it he’ll let you know – just smile, Say Cheese from the Scottish Highlands – Say Crowdie Beautiful lochs and massive mountains, a pleasant summer and a harsh winter. Cheese making in Scotland belongs to the clans and the […]

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7th March 2014 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Lord Livingston’s Central European Diary – Day 5

The chequered flag in sight and Lord Livingston and team in pole position on GREAT opportunities in high growth CEE Moving up a gear and onto the home straight of the GREAT CEE Megamission 2014 – there’s three things which come out of this whistle stop tour of this exciting region: – The region as […]

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